Container



Jan. 9, 1940.

J. P. KAVANAUGH 2,186,111

' CONTAINER Filed March 9, 1937 2 sheets sheet 1 0 o o o I o o o o 0 0 n o 0 0 0 0 0 o o u nv. I IIIIIJII. I 'III Fig.4

Zhwemor ggaseph Kai/an'augh (Ittomeg 1940- J. P. KAVANAUGH 2,186,111

I CONTAINER Filed March 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nnentor *f;----- P P K'avanaugh attorney Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER v Joseph P. Kavanaugli, Seattle, Wash.

, Application March 9, 1937, Serial No. 129,831 v I 6Claims 01. 229-43) '1 This invention relates to a container, and more specifically to a basket or box especiallyj suitable for grapes or berries of various Such a I container may, if desired, be provided with a cover and suitable handles, but these may be of any conventional construction and are not part of my invention. 1

The principles of construction which I employ are best adapted to a container havingtwo sides I and two "ends, the ends of which, at least, are

flared'upWardQand flared sides are also preferable. A principal object of my inventionis to produce such a container which may be cornpletely fabricated at a factory, and yet may be shipped in a collapsed condition as a fiat package. The user will have no nailing, stitching or gluing operation to perform, but may merely expand the collapsed wall structure and fix the bottom in place without the employment of tools and by the performance of a. few simple manipulations. Another object of my invention is to construct a container having reenforced corners, preferably in the formof buttresses disposed in prolongation of the side walls of the container. A stifi and rigid structure is thereby produced, though the material may itself be of flimsycharacter.

A further object of my invention is, in a container for the purposementioned, to provide a construction which will permit access of air to and air circulation through the contents of the container, and in particular the lower layer thereof. v

Still another object ,of my invention is to construct a container having the aforementioned advantages which may be constructed with a minication, which will-enable the container to be collapsed, and which in expanded form contribute to its rigidity and utility, the particular unique characteristics of which are specifically defined in th claims.

I have shown in the drawings a preferred form;

of container in whichboth the ends and thesides are flared upwardly, and in whichthe end of a band which seats about its entire circumference each side forms with the upper edge of such side an acute angle. It is to be understood, however,

that whilethe end walls will always be flared upwardly-and outwardly, the side walls, under cer- I tain conditions, may be vertical, or the sides may 5 have square cut ends. 'Also I have shown the bottom of the container constructed separately from the "wall structure, but such bottom may be formed integral with a side or an end, or secured along an edge there-to, if desired. These and 10 other changes may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in theappended claims.

Figure l is a plan view of the container.

Figure 215 a transverse section of the container, 15 taken along the. line 22 of Figure 1, while Figure .3 is an end elevation View.

Figure 5 shows the wall structure in collapsed position, while Figure 6 shows the strip from which the wall structure is made scored along the proper lines for folding, preparatory to fabrication of the wall structure.

gure 7 is a diagram showing. the method of calculating and laying out the score lines, according to the desired dimensions of. the container.

Figures 8 and. 9 are fragmentary end elevation and plan views, respectively, of a slightly modified 39 form of, mechanism for locking the bottom to the wall structure.

As will be evident from Figures 1, 2 and 3,. my

, container preferably has upwardly flared sideand I end walls,'and a fiat bottom. It is intended pri- 35 maril y for use as a grape basket, and since fermentation of fresh grapes usually starts at the bottom of a basket, where ventilation is poor, I have taken special precautions to insure a circulation of air through this portion of my container.

To that end I employ a perforated bottom, and addition preferably perforate the sides. Anaperturedbottom is ordinarily of little value since the bottom of agrape basket usually consists of quite tightly upon a table or other basket supporting the grapebasket. Inmy container, however, I space the lower edges of the end walls ing the corners in such a manner that the lower edges of the ends will necessarily be raised.

A container of the type which I have illustrated is preferably made of fiber board or similar material. In order to employ successfully the lighter weights of such material I provide specially reinforced corners. To reduce further the cost of these containers my preferred construction is also adapted to utilize scrap strips by allowing the wall structure, including the sides and ends, to be made of one strip of material, and the bottom section to be made separately from another strip of scrap. Construction of the bottom integral with one of the sides is not quite so economical for scrap material cannot so easily be utilized. The cost of fabricating the container is also kept to a minimum by forming the wall structure merely by scoring and folding, so that no cuts are required between the ends of the strip, and the folds are held where desired by suitable clips or staples, or by gluing or stitching.

In Figure 6 is shown a strip scored preparatory to being folded to form the. wall structure. It includes two side portions I and two end portions III, with triangular portions II disposed between and joined to adjacent sides and ends. A flap I2 is also provided for stapling to the end section III at the opposite end of the strip. Two classes of score lines are employed, one type I3 forming an acute angle with the upper edges of the side walls, defining the end slope of each slide, and the other type I4 formed on the other side of the strip and disposed at an acute angle with the upper edges of the ends.

In forming the container from' the strip of Figure 6 each corner is broken oppositely along the score lines I3 and I4 to form a pleat. Each triangular section II, having upright sides I3 and I4, is deflected through 180 degrees about a line I3 to lie flat against the'side I. These triangular sections are permanently secured in such position by suitable means, such as staples 2, which may be disposed along the lines I4. The triangularsections II are then disposed at an angle of degrees to the'end sections I0 about the lines I4. This will'bring'the'flap I2 intoa position overlappingthe end section II] at the opposite end of the strip, and this flap is then permanently secured to the end, such as by staples, to form of the strip a continuous wall structure including sides I, ends III, and intermediate joining sections II, disposed in relationto each other as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

It will be evident that the disposition of the lines I3 at an acute angle to the upper edges of the sides I is not necessary in order to form a container having upwardly and outwardly flaredwalls, for the inclination of the lines I4 will accomplish this effect. Disposition of the line I3 at an acute angle will, however, as clearly shown in Figure 4, cause the lower edgeof the joining section II to be directed upwardly so that the lower, edge of the end Ill joined to the section I I. will be spaced above the lower edge of the side I when the strip is folded as described, without the necessity of cutting a portion out of the ends lower edge. A space for' inflow of air to the perforated bottom for ventilation purposes will thereby be afforded without the necessity of an additional cutting operation.

It will also be evident that folding of the strip in the manner described will result in the container having buttressed corners disposed in prolongation of the sides I. This construction makes for great strength, but if it should beconsidered;

unsightly, a reenforced corner would still be provided if the buttress were folded about the line I4 and again secured face to face against the end wall II]. .On the other hand, a further fold might be made in the side I along the line of contact of the end I0 therewith, and the section joined along the line I3 might be deflected through to form a reentrant pocket extending into the interior of the container, which might be secured to the side I in such inwardly projecting position.

In the particularly construction described the ends and the sides will both ordinarily be flared upward, the ends being flared to a greater extent than the sides.

By properly selecting the length of sides and ends and the angles of the score lines, however, it is possible to have a structure in which only the end walls are flared upwardly, while the side walls will be disposed precisely vertically. On the other hand, if the lines I3 are made perpendicular to the top edges of the sides, instead of being disposed at an acute angle as shown, then the side and end walls will be flared upwardly to the same degree, instead of the end walls being flared to a greater extent than the side walls, as in the construction shown.

It will be seen that a wall structure of the type described, though made of. comparatively light material, will be rugged and stiff. It is further desirable, however,.that the corners be folded in the manner described and stapled, and that the ends of the strip be permanently secured together prior to shipment. Such containers, provided with the preferred buttressed corners illustrated, cannot be easily nested and even if they could be considerable room would still be required. I have therefore devised a way of folding the wall structure into a flat package, wherein one side and one end, disposed substantially in a common plane, will lie flat against the other side and end, also disposed substantially in a common plane, in the manner shown in Figure 5.

In designing a wall structure which will fold into a flat package of the type described, the length of the upper edges of the sides and ends may be selected arbitrarily. So also may be arbitrarily selected the angle at which the lines I3 are disposed to the upper edges of the sides. Having selected these three factors, however, only one slope of line I4 corresponding to these factors selected will enable the wall structure to be folded. In order to score the lines I4 at the proper angle this line may be plotted in the manner illustrated in the diagram of Figure '7. A length of side upper edge AC is selected, and the length of end upper edge AB is chosen. These lines are disposed at an angle equal to twice the angle of departure of the line I3 from a perpendicular to the upper edge of the wall structure. This angle ,BAC is equal to the angle between the lower edge of the triangular section II, as shown in Figure 4, and the lower edge of the side I. With radius A-B and center C an arc is drawn. With radius AC and center B a second arc is drawn, intersecting the first are at D. The figure ABDC will now represent the diagram assumed by the upper edge of the wall structure in the folded position of Figure 5. The angle PA-E is then drawn, being the angle between line I3 and a perpendicular in the strip the sum ofthe upper edges of. one

side and one .end must beequalxto the sum of g the lower edges of one side and one end plus the length of the lower-edges of two triangular sections ll. Alsoit is evident that the length of the lower edge of an end plus the length of the lower edges of two triangular sections H must be equal to the length of the upper edge of the end plus the amount by which the two adjacent ends of the sides lower edges are shortened, the shortening of one side being represented in Figure '7 by the distance P-'-'E. Translating this last statement into .the distances represented in Figure 7;

having made X-E and YZ equal to P--E', and

X-Y, equal to AB, we find that the total length EZ is equal to XY, the length of the upper edge of the end, plus XE and Y--Z, each equal to the length cut from one end of. one side.

Next we find that in folded position, because of the disposition of the diagram A-B-D-C,

length MN will be the length of the lower edge I the adjacent ends of the sides must be disposed at AE and B-F. To the line EZ, therefore, it is only necessary to draw a line FN at an angle to the line FH equal to the angle BA-C, or twice the angle P-AE, which is the angle of turn up GEM, previously mentioned as being shown in Figure 4. It will then be found that the length F--N equals the length NZ, and by striking 01f an equal length EM the lines AM and B-,N can be plotted. The

of the end I0, and the lines EM and N--F will each be equal to the length of a lower edge of a triangular section II. The angles MA-'-B and 36 NB-A will be equal, and will be the angles which the lines l4 must make with the upper edge of the wall structure in order to obtain foldability thereof.

. The angle of slope of the side and end walls may also be ascertained easily from the diagram of Figure 7. The slope of each end in expanded position will be, of course, the line A-'M or the angle PA-M from the vertical. The slope of the side from the vertical will be the angle X--A-M, which is the departure of the line AM joined to the side from the perpendicular AX. Thus by the diagram of Figure 7 the slope of the sides and the slope of the ends may be ascertained, and the angles of the lines l3 and I4 may be plotted. In varying the proportions of the box it will be found that the angle X--AM will be increased, and hence the end slope will become more shallow by a decreasing the length of the side, b increasing the length bottom be formed separately from the wall structure, and be provided with tabs disposed about its margins. In the wall structure I provide slots 3|, all disposed in a plane near the bottom, into which the tabs 30 may be projected. The wall structure is thereby maintained in an expanded position, and the completed container is ready for use. As pointed out previously, the bottom might, if desired, be formed with one of its edges integral with a side I, for example. In folded position of the wall structure thisbottom 3 could'befolded flat against the side I and project thereabove, between it and'the other side. In expanded position tabson the other three sides of the bottom might be-inserted into slots 3| in the manner shown. I Y

As an alternative form'of locking'device for securing the bottom to the wall structure, and

supporting it therefrom,l may provide a tab,

shown in' Figure 9, having an enlarged head portion 32 and a narrow neck portion 33. Such a tab may be inserted into a T-shaped slot 3d, as shown in Figure 8. The neck 33 will be of a width and a length to drop down into the upright portion of the T-slot, and pressure on the bottom of the container cannot pull the tab end 32 through it. The bottom is thereby securely locked to the wall structure.

What' I claim as my invention is: l. A container comprising a continuous wall strip having its ends joined to form, as integral components, two end sections flared upwardly and two side sections having their lower edges extending below the lower edges of the end sections, to leave aspace between the lower edges of the end sections. and an object supporting the container, and a bottom supported between the side sections and the flared end sections, above- .the level of the lower edges of the side sections, to I complete the container.

2. A container comprising a strip having its ends joined to form a wall structure including integral sides and ends, said strip having at each corner a section folded back-upon a side along a line disposed at an acute angle to the upper edge of the side, and permanently secured to such side, and each such section being joined to an adjoining end to support the lower edge of such end above the lower edge of the adjacent side, and a perforated bottom supported between the sides and ends to complete the container.

3. A container comprising a strip having its ends joined to form a wall structure including integral sides and ends, and external buttress extensions disposed coplanar with the sides, and outwardly of the ends, said strip having at each corner a section folded back upon the buttress extension and permanently secured thereto to form a buttress, and 'a bottom supported between the sides and ends to complete the container. j

4. A container comprising a strip having its ends joined to form a wall structureincluding integral, upwardly flared sides and ends, and external'buttress corners disposed in prolongation of the sides, said strip having at each corner a section folded back upon a side along a line disposed at an acute angle to the upper wall edge, and permanently secured to such side to form a buttress, each such section being joined to an adjoining end to support the lower edge of such end above the lower edges of the sides, and a bottom supported between the flared sides and ends to complete the container.

5. A collapsible container comprising a strip having'its ends join'edto form a wall structure including integral, upwardly flared sides and ends, andiexternal buttress corners disposed in prolongation of the sides, said strip having at each corner a section folded back upon a side along a line disposed at an acute angle to the upper wall edge, and permanently secured to such side to form a buttress,.each such section being joined to an adjoining end to'support the lower edge of such end above the lower edges of the sides, and the junction angle between such section and the end being such that said wall structure may be moved from expanded position into collapsed position, wherein one side and one end disposed substantially in line lie flat against the other side and end also disposed substantially in line, and a perforated bottom separate from the wall structure and having tabs projecting outward from its edge, said wall structure having a plurality of horizontal slots near the lower edge thereof corresponding in position to said tabs and of a size to receive them for interconnection of said bottom with the wall struc-' ture.

6. A container wall structure formed of a continuous strip of material adapted to have its ends joined, and having upper and lower edges which are straight throughout, and having corner fold lines disposed angularly with respect to such edges to define a rectangular container wall structure having two opposite ends which are upwardly and outwardly flared, andshorter than the two other sides, the angles of the fold lines and the lengths of the sides and ends being so chosen and arranged relatively as to form buttress extensions of the sides beyond the ends, and to fold a side and an end along the corner fold lines into a common plane, and to fold flat against the other side and end, likewise folded along the corner fold lines into a common plane,

JOSEPH P. KAVANAUGH. 

